FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Show them the money: Cornerback Sauce Gardner was one of the first players contacted by newly-hired coach Aaron Glenn, who also reached out quickly to wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Smart moves by the first-time head coach as Gardner and Wilson are foundational players.
Of course, nothing spreads happiness better than a contract extension. They’re eligible for the first time, and it sounds like new general manager Darren Mougey is on board with the idea of locking up his two stars, both entering Year 4.
“The to-do list is to keep good young players on the team and add good players,” Mougey said at the scouting combine this week, commenting on whether it’s realistic to extend Gardner and Wilson.
He didn’t say when, though — and that’s the key question. Players drafted in the first round are under contract for four years, plus a fifth-year team option. Naturally, they want extensions ASAP. They’re eligible after Year 3.
Leaguewide, it’s uncommon for former first-round picks at corner and wide receiver to land extensions before their fourth season, but the times they are a-changin’. (Apologies to Bob Dylan.)
It happened this past year with Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (four years, $96 million). He’s noteworthy in the Gardner conversation because Mougey, previously the Broncos’ assistant GM, was involved in that process. It worked out well for Denver, as Surtain was named the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
That could bode well for Gardner, who has made no secret of his desire to spend his entire career with the Jets.
Prior to Surtain, it hadn’t happened for a cornerback since 2020, when Tre’Davious White and Marlon Humphrey signed extensions. Humphrey’s deal actually occurred in the middle of the season.
At wide receiver, only two active former first rounders landed new deals before Year 4 — Jaylen Waddle (three years, $85 million) and DeVonta Smith (three years, $75 million). Both signings occurred this past year, signaling a possible shift in the way teams do business.
Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million) and CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) also scored monster extensions in 2024, but those came before their fifth season. Ja’Marr Chase, too, appears to be on the same timeline.
Mougey said he doesn’t have a concrete philosophy on when to extend players; he evaluates on a case-by-case basis.
2. Mystery man: The Jets are resetting their quarterback depth chart in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, and the player no one is talking about is Jordan Travis, a 2024 fifth-round pick.
He’s a wild card because he didn’t practice or play this past season, but the new staff is said to be excited about working with him. He was a dynamic player at Florida State, where he accounted for 27 touchdowns (passing and rushing) and only two interceptions in 2023 before a gruesome ankle injury ended his college career.
The past 15 months have been physically and mentally taxing for Travis, who spent his rookie year on the non-football injury list. The hope was to get him on the practice field at some point, but that never materialized.
“His rehab with the Jets was not the best,” his agent, Deiric Jackson, told ESPN. “They tried to rush him. It was too fast. There was pressure on the coaching staff and they tried to get him going sooner than the timeline really was. That caused the setback, and we had to shut him down completely.”
Jackson declined to specify the nature of the setback, though it’s believed that Travis experienced swelling and soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle. The Jets defended their position, with a team spokesman saying they adhered to the rehab plan created by Travis’ surgeon, orthopedist Robert Anderson.
Travis should be ready to go for the 2025 season, according to Jackson, who said, “I’m optimistic.”
3. Raising expectations: It almost sounded scripted. Mougey said the Jets’ goal is “winning now and from now on.” A few minutes later, in a separate news conference at the combine, Glenn said, “Every decision that me and Mooge make is to win, and to win now.”
Five weeks into their jobs, Mougey and Glenn have done nothing to tamp down expectations. Let’s be clear: They’re not predicting a Super Bowl, à la Rex Ryan in 2009, but they’re talking like they believe the Jets — coming off a 5-12 season — can make noise in 2025.
It’s an interesting, perhaps daring, approach. When a new leadership team takes over a perennial loser, it usually proceeds with caution, preaching patience. Despite 14 consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, Mougey and Glenn aren’t interested in selling a long-term rebuild to the fan base.
Actions speak louder than words, though. Their true feelings about the current roster should come to light by their level of aggressiveness in free agency and the draft. They’ve already made one move that belies a win-now philosophy — the decision to release Aaron Rodgers, 41, a win-now quarterback if there ever was one. On the surface, it sends a mixed message.
Mougey and Glenn don’t see it that way, of course. While they still haven’t provided a concrete reason for saying goodbye to the future Hall of Famer, they evidently believe they can win now without him. Time will tell if they’re right.
1:38
Stephen A. says Jets releasing Aaron Rodgers ‘the right move’
Stephen A. Smith reacts to the Jets officially announcing they are moving on from Aaron Rodgers.
4. Orange to green? A second-tier quarterback on the rise is Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, who grew up a Jets fan in South Jersey. He has family on Long Island, which might explain his affinity for the Jets. He wore No. 6 at Syracuse and Ohio State because of Mark Sanchez, a former Jets QB. McCord told reporters at the combine that he followed the Jets’ playoff runs in 2009 and 2010.
5. Once upon a time in Indianapolis… Glenn was a hotshot prospect at the scouting combine. The year was 1994, and he was one of the highest-rated corners. He did nine reps on the bench press (225 pounds) but opted to skip the running and jumping tests. At his pro day, he ran the 40 in 4.33 seconds and recorded a 40-inch vertical jump — outstanding numbers. The Jets drafted him 12th overall.
6. Ringing endorsement: Glenn received a huge compliment from his previous boss, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell.
“He’s going to be phenomenal, man,” Campbell said at the combine. “AG’s a superstar.”
Campbell said he always made it a point to include his former defensive coordinators in conversations about the roster, the salary cap, rules, etc. to help him prepare to be a head coach.
7. Ringing endorsement, part two: As GM, Mougey’s job is to find diamonds in the rough. Maybe it takes one to know one.
“I always thought he was a hidden gem,” Broncos GM George Paton said of his former assistant. “I was surprised when other teams weren’t talking to him.”
The Jets were the first team to interview Mougey, whom Paton described as “really intelligent.”
“He has a plan,” Paton said. “He knows what he wants. He know how to build.”
8. All in the family: Glenn won’t have to do a lot of background work on Clemson safety R.J. Mickens, a potential late-round pick. Glenn has known Mickens his entire life. He’s the son of former Jets cornerback Ray Mickens, one of Glenn’s former teammates and a close friend.
“We kind of grew up with their family,” R.J. said at the combine.
9. Musical chairs: Most of the previous coaching staff has landed jobs with other teams. Out of the coordinators and position coaches, only two remain without jobs — Nathaniel Hackett (offensive coordinator) and Ron Middleton (tight ends).
10. The Last Word: “I remember the highlight of the signing class the year after I got to San Diego State was Darren Mougey, this hot-shot, Hercules-looking fella from Arizona. I remember thinking, ‘Holy cow, I’ve got my work cut out for me to stay on the field.'” — Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell of his fellow Aztec quarterback.
The New York Jets are currently working to trade star wide receiver Davante Adams (32) following the release of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Adams is set to count
The value of the world’s biggest sports teams has skyrocketed in the last 15 years, driven by increasing television revenues, improved stadiums, and more soph
A RISING college football star has tragically been killed in a horror car crash, at just 18 years old, after a vehicle collided into a tree.Mason Alexander, fro
"That's the engine for us," Holmes said of the offensive line after the season. "And so, I don't care how good we ever get on the offensive line, that one